The "huge" slideshow below is of Alex's birthday. my baby turned 4 yesterday. It makes me sad to think it has been four years since I have held him in my arms as an infant. He is getting to be so big and keeps me hopping with his antics. His hugs are wonderful and sweet kisses, I hope he never out grows the hugs. If he thinks I might be sad he will give me a hug, he hugs me when he is sad too. I love my little boy so much. He got some great things, clothes, a new football, a bike that looks like a motor cross bike, it even has shocks. I will have to post a picture of that I forgot to do that. He also got some lego's. Grandma Holloway, who is so far away in Florida, sent some money, money is a big thing for him now.

I have to tell you this. Saturday morning when Alex woke up and I was telling him that he was four now, he just couldn't beleive it. He kept asking me, right now, and I said yes right now. His first response, I have to see how big I am. Its funny how as children we want to grow up and then as adults we wish we could back in time. Well, as we all know time keeps marching on whether we it to or not. My advice is, enjoy the time while we have it and trust God to get us thorugh the hard spots for there will be many.

Photobucket Album

Life has been happening in a crazy whirlwind, literally, around here. I barely get through one and then another hits. Let me begin with the wind. Well we were hit with hurricane Ike on Sunday, and I don't mean a few puffs of wind, it was a lot of big wind blowing all around for about 3 or 4 hours. It was hurricane force winds, I heard from various people that it was about 70-100 MPH winds. trees uprooted, roofing materials picked apart, and power lines down. After the storm at stopped in the tri-state area there was only about 40,000 homes and businesses with electricity. If you ran out of gas there was none to get. The few gas stations with gas quickly ran out. Grocery stores were closed and the ones who did open did not have anything cold. Anyone who has lived their whole life in this area will tell you they have never seen anything like it. Was it predicted? I do not recall hearing about it until it did hit. I had heard that we could get some of hurricane Ike and I figured liked most that it would be some rain, it rained softly for about 1/2 hour or so. Many were without power for days following the storm, some may be without still. We were blessed in the fact our lines are connected with the City Building, and that is first priority due to emergency services need to be up and running quickly. I think our power was out about 4 hours all together. Unfortunately I do not have pictures because the days following the storm included cleaning up and making sure my mother-in-law was taken care of, her electricity did not come on until tuesday afternoon. Other then a some tree limbs and a bunch of leaves and little branches we did not have much storm damage. I feel blessed that God would take care of us, even though others may have had worse in this area none of us are going though the devestation in Texas. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

The next whirlwind is the dentist, we have all been going through our bi-annual checkups the kids are all good, Randy had a tooth cracked all the way down and had to get a crown. He had a lot of trouble eating until the tooth was fixed, thankfully he did not need a root canal. I have to have some work on some teeth that have been giving me problems, one was this week. I am not good the dentist chair, I squirm and sometimes cry. Its a whole big mess so I now take a little pill to help me be calm before I go to the dentist. It has made a world of difference, the only problem is I am pretty wiped out for the rest of the day from the medicine.

Ok, whirlwind #3, a fieldtrip. Yesterday we went to a firedepartment for a field trip with a group from out church. It was fun for the kids. They got to get in the fire trucks and ambulance and ask question. They were given a firesafety talk and also got the see where the firemen eat and relax between emergencies. I think the kids enjoyed it. I don't have my pictures yet but when I get them I will post them so you can enjoy. As for whirlwind #4, I am waiting on that one but when it hits I can face it head on knowing that Jesus is beside me to help and guide me through. Recently a women doing political campaigning for Obama knocked on the door of a house and started talking to the man who lived there and asked who he would vote for when he told her McCain and Palin, her responce was,"aren't you afraid of the next four years", he smiled and said, "As long as I have Jesus what do I have to be afraid about". That is how I want to face each day. As long as I have Jesus what do I have to be afraid about?

We are apt to forget that a man is not onl committed to Jesus Christ for salvation; he is committed to Jesus Christ's view of God, of the world, of sin and of the devil, and this will mean that he must recognize the responsibility of being transformed by the renewing of his mind. Oswald Chambers.

When I read this it reminded me of how so many are getting the worlds view and not God's view but yet claiming to have a real relationship with God. There is a rush to evangelize the world according to its own perception and not a true biblical perception. Many say but I don't think God expects this or that. We are to renew our minds in Christ so that our former thoughts are put away and we have a whole new way of thinking. Everything we do should be governed by the will of God, even what we think.

I hope you all have a good day in Christ and remember to do as God would have you do.

This squirrel decided to steal some flower seeds. There was not much in the feeder but it would stick its little paws in under the glass and reach what it could. It was also very bold, even when we knocked on the window it would just look at us and keep on eating. Usually we have to go outside to get it off and then of course it comes right back.

Here are various photos of us enjoying summer, labor day and nature. The last picture is a hummingbird pirched on Max's guide wire. I tried to open the screen to get a better picture but it flew away. The kids love any excuse to get outside and especially they love going to the different parks in the area. Any excuse for a picnic is a good excuse. Enjoy the pictures.